Shakespeare

             William Shakespeare's play, King Lear, draws much attention from philosophers. The debate is about whether or not the last seventy lines of the play deal with a Christian view or as a cosmological theme. Shakespeare's dialect through the play suggests that he intends King Lear to explain the existence of divine justice and order. This is apparent through King Lear stepping down as king and completely ignoring all of the rules of divine right. Once King Lear steps down evil begins overtaking all of those around him. Albany writes in the end of the play "(r)ule in this realm, and the gored state sustain" can be interpreted as the kingdom will never return to what it was due to both good and evil being dead. Both Christian philosophers and nihilistic philosophers both have sufficient evidence to argue this point that is why it is still being debated.
             Philosophers that take side of Christian beliefs say that evil dies with Gonerill, Regan, and Edmund and good dies with Cordelia and King Lear leaving the kingdom in purgatory. During King Lear's time, people believed in divine right meaning that only God could chose the king. When King Lear stepped down it went against God's intention for divine right and why God had to pick the king/queen setting the world into a form of chaos or anarchy. This is apparent because Lear's two daughters who before pronounced their undying love quickly turned against him once they received their right. Edmund who originated from sin (adultery) also quickly turned on his brother and father because of his zest for power. Lear who becomes evil quickly after his step down from throne is shown in a Christian aspect of repenting to his youngest daughter, who he banished form his kingdom, near the end of the story. Once he repents he enters into a heavenly bliss where all he wants to do is live eternally with his daughter, who is the only one le
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Shakespeare. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 07:05, May 20, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/26785.html